William a



(No Model.)

W. A. LIST.

, TIN SEAMING MACHINE.

- No. 309,551. Patented Dec. 23,1884.

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WILLIAM Af LIST, OF \VHEELING, VEST VIRGINIA.

TlN SEAIl/HNG MACHINE.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,551, dated December 23, 1884:.

Application filed May 31, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

3e it known that I, WILLIAM A. Lrs'r, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at lVheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of Vest Virginia, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Tin-seaming Machines, of which improvement the following is a specification.

in the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved seaming-tongs. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the tongs clamping the edges of the tin sheets preparatory to bending over the projecting portion of one of said edges. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the projecting portion turned over. Fig. iis a transverse sectional view showing the manner of using the tool for 010s ing the seam. Figs. 5, 6, 7 show the different steps in the seaming operation.

My invention relates to that class of tools which are used for locking and double locking together the edges of strips of tin or other sheet metal employed in covering roofs. These strips are composed of a number of sheets soldered together. The longitudinal edges of the strips thus formed are turned up at right angles to the general plane of strips, one of said edges being made somewhat higher than the other. The strips thus prepared are laid alongside of each other on the roof or other surface to be covered,with the high edge of one sheet resting against the low edge of the adjacent strip. Then by suitable tools that portion of the high edge which projects above the adjacent low edge is bent down over and against said edge, thus locking, or seaming the two strips together, and, if desired, this locked edge can be double locked or seamed by turning over the edges just looked, as is well understood in the art.

The object of myinvention is to so construct a tool that this looking or seaming may be quickly eifected without injury to the metal being operated on, and with comparative ease to the workman; and to this end myinvention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. I

My roofing-tongs consist of the two metal jaws 1 and 2, nearly rectangular in cross-sec- In the upper side of the jaw l is formed the recess 5, having one of its sides, 6, inclining downward and outward from the clamping face ofthe jaw,-as shown. That portion ofthe high upturned edge 8 which projects above the edge or flange 7 is, in the operation of the tool, bent upon the inclined side 6 by the turningleaf 9, hinged on the upper side of the jaw 2 near its clamping-face. This turning-1eaf is made triangular in crosssection, and is so hinged that it turns on its apex as a pivot, and its construction is such that when turned in the position shown in hi gs. 2 and at its bend ing-face 10 will form an angle with the clamping-face of the jaw 2, to which it is hinged in order to give an initial bend to the projecting portion 11 of the flange 8 when the clampingjaws are brought together. To this turningleaf 9 is secured the treadle 14, by which the leaf is turned down into the position shown in Fig. 8, and thereby bending down the projecting portion 11 onto the side 6, as shown. This side 6 and the leaf 9 are so constructed with relation to each other that the projecting portion 11 is bent beyond a right angle to the flanges 7 and 8. The angle which the sides of the leaf 9 form at the apex is so obtuse that the other side of the leaf will overhang the turning-point when the leaf is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the metal in said leaf is so disposed that the weight in. this overhanging portion will cause the leaf to turn back into operative position as soon as the operators foot is removed from the treadle. This return movement of theleaf will be assisted by the resiliency of the turned-down portion of the metal strip.

The seaming-tools now in use have the under sides of the clamping-jaws at right angles to the clamping-face, and when so constructed it is impossible to open the clampingjaws without bending up the turned-down portion 11 if said portion has been bent beyond aright angle to the flanges 7 and 8, as is always desirable. 1 overcome this objectionable feature are opened the inner corners of the jaws will drop'down, so the jaw 1 can move out from under the portion 11 without bending said por tion up in the slightest degree.

In using seaming-tools the projecting portion 11 is frequently broken or torn immediately in front of the tool when the turningleaf bends down that part on which it is operating, as will be readily understood, This breakingor tearing of the projecting portion is avoided in my tool, as the operative face 10 of theleaf 9 is concaved at each end, as shown at 12, Fig. 1, thereby providing for a gradual bending of the portion 11 at the forward end of the tool, and avoiding the sharp bend which .is given to said portion when the operative face of the turning-leaf is uniform throughout its whole length, as will be readily understood. The inner edges of the ears 3 are cut away, as shown, so as to permit of the entrance and bending of the portion 11 of the flanges. After the proj eeting portion has been bent as shown in Fig. 3, it is closed down against the lower fiange,7, by closing the clamping-jaws against this turned portion 11, when it willbe closed, as shown in Fig. 4.

If it is desired to form a double seam, a tool similar to the one above described is used,with the exception that the clamping-j aws should be made lower than those shown by an amount equal to the width of the portion to be bent in forming the double seam. It will be noticed that in closing down the bent portion 11 the tool does not have to be reversed, as is the case with other tools of this class, except those in which onehalf of the tool is employed for forming the initial bend and the other half for closing down the portion bent at the previous op eration of the tool; but this simultaneous bending and closing operation, requires considerable exertion on the part of the operator.

I claim herein as my invention In aseaming-tool, apair ofhingedclarnpingjaws, one of said jaws having the inclined face 6, and both jaws having their under faces inclined as described, in combination with a turning-leaf, substantially as set forth.

, In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM A. LIST.

\Vitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcorr, R. H. VVHITTLEsEY. 

